We can’t predict what’s going to happen tomorrow: either way, there’s a possibility things will stay the same for months. We couldn’t predict the COVID-19 pandemic as it was hard to imagine oil prices rising to $120.

At this point, many people ask, “Do I still need to plan a summer trip? Should I book flights sooner or later? How do I manage the long-delayed summer plans?” 

In this piece, we’re going to explore the following topics: 

• airfare prices are rising, and yet, there’s hope to save money for your plans
• deciding to rent a car may cost you even more than booking a flight
• to get yourself a good deal, you should visit countries with decent public transportation. 

Curious? Let’s see what a regular travel nerd (like you, like us) can do to solve global issues.

Dealing with Expensive Airfare

First, the prices of airline tickets rise, but not as much as you might think. Second, there’s always an option to save money or ask for extra cash. Consider the following options for buying a summer package: 

• Booking in advance — in 3-4 months ideally, so that the airfare would be cheaper
• Borrowing from friends — A classic approach if you need a small amount of money.
• Asking for emergency cash immediately after bad credit, in this case, is the only obstacle you might have. Otherwise, no one will judge you if there’s an excellent opportunity to travel and your paycheck is due in a week.

Unlike many inflation-affected expenses (food, for instance), airfare prices rise from a much lower baseline. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average domestic airline fare has risen from $284 (in the last quarter of 2020) to $328 (in the first quarter of 2022).

 What’s driving this process up? Mostly, fuel costs and higher demand. However, fuel costs cover only about 30% of airline operating costs, and commercial providers have ways to defray those numbers.

Renting a Car is not a Winning Choice

Driving is expensive. The average costs travel nerds spend on gas might not kill a summer budget but certainly decrease it. Besides, since a few shortages of rental cars took place in recent years, you can find yourself trapped in a vicious circle — when cars won’t be available, and you’re already short in cash. 

Consider public transportation if reaching your destination will take less than a day. Buses are usually the last options people think of, but even with fuel prices going up, they won’t make such an impact on your budget. 

On the other hand, prices for car rental are very high — adding a 7% increase in lodging costs means they will “eat” more than half of your travel budget. The message we’d like you to save here is — if you can spend a pleasant vacation without renting a car, you should go for it. Those expenses are one of the most inflated and will keep going up.

Choose Transit-Friendly Cities as the Opposite of a Countryside

Everyone keeps talking about popular tourist spots, even if those are provincial towns. As a rule, the more demand for such places rises in society, the higher the prices will go. Then, of course, you’ll need to rent a car (which we tried to talk you out of) or continuously fill a tank with gas. So the main question is — is it essential? 

Coastal urban areas are left far behind rural destinations. Even though it’s easier for travelers to reach New York or Boston by bus, they keep choosing far-flung towns and villages as the perfect place for holidays. The demand for vacation rentals has already exceeded pre-pandemic levels, meaning people are ready to spend more just for the road than saving money for exciting activities. 

We want to avoid you thinking that a countryside vacation is terrible; it’s excellent, romantic, and a chance to recreate your physical and mental well-being. First, however, we suggest you open your mind and thoroughly examine the money you can spend on vacation this year. There are so many underestimated cities (yes, and megapolises too) worth looking at.

Keep Calm and Monitor the Prices

We started talking about the oil prices because of their direct impact on other economic aspects. For example, if you’re buying airline tickets alone, you’ll notice the price changes (at astronomical levels sometimes). However, fuel costs are not the only thing at play, so let’s not blame oil for our travel miseries. 

The world is watching borders reopen; COVID-19 risks are finally taking it slow, and people are getting ready to plan their next big trip. The demand is much higher, and so are the prices. Therefore, you should either plan the vacation (in a few months to catch the lowest price) or visit less popular destinations. 

Although we leave lockdown memories behind, many airlines offer customer-friendly policies, meaning you can change or cancel your flight for no charge. This cancellation flexibility is another reason for higher airfare costs — CEOs are just preventing the budget drop due to a higher cancellation rate. 

One more piece of advice for people choosing domestic flights — check if you can score a nonstop flight for the same price as the connecting itinerary, or choose a better city airport. Different airlines have various policies based on the additional services and ticket types. Sometimes, if a new fare is lower, the difference is compromised by a credit card voucher as a discount for your next trip.

The Bottom Line

To summarize all the mentioned points, people should reevaluate their preferences for vacation. However, they don’t have to ignore big cities with good public transportation because they’ll save more money for shopping and entertainment. 

On the other hand, if you’re ready to pay for a rental car, you’re aware of the risks, and you have a solid budget, we don’t see any reason to stop you. After all, if not today, then when?